Web handling machine



Oct. 13, 1953 R. T. sTEwART 2555212 wEB HANDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TrO/VEKS Patented Oct. 13, 1953 WEB HANDLING MACHINE Ralph T. Stewart, Winston-Salem,

to The Herald Press, Inc.,

North Carolina N. C., assignor a corporation of Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 141,124 7 Clams. (Cl. 164-22) This invention relates generally to machines for handling web materials, and more especially to a unique means by which a machine of this sort may be arranged for intermittently stopping travel of succeeding portions of continuously fed web material for a conforming Operation without interrupting the continuous feeding of the web material.

The machine of the present invention is particularly well adapted for use in cutting a recurring pattern in web material, as in the formation of roll labels and the like, and for convenience the invention is illustrated and described further below in terms of an embodiment arranged for this purpose, although it will be apparent that the invention may be used to equally good advantage where other similar types of conforming operations are to be performed.

Briefly characterized, the present invention contemplates incorporating in a Web handling machine first and second pairs of web material feeding rolls disposed in spaced relation and arranged as substantially Vertical stands for allowing the web material to be trained through the nip of each of these pairs of rolls with a web portion extending between the roll pairs over the top roll of each pair, and means for intermittently displacing at least the top roll of each pair of rolls in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the web material between the pairs of rolls and at a speed equal to the feeding speed of the web material. By this arrangement, the web material can be fed continuously at high speed and still stopped intermittently for .a conforming Operation as will appear more fully below from the detailed description of the present invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a web handling machine arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, taken substantially from the position indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

y Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the crank mechanism associated with the pairs of web feeding rolls, and taken substantially from the position indicated at 4- 4 in Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 5--5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the operating arrangement of the pairs of web feed- Iing rolls; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a web in which roll labels have been cut in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now in detal to the drawings, and more particularly at first to Figs. 1 and r2, the web handling machine shown comprises a frame structure, as indicated generally by the reference numeral Ill, Which is fitted with means for disposing a web supply roll S so that a web W may be wthdrawn for continuous feeding through the machine and for rewinding into rolls as at R. The means for disposing the supply roll S, as well as the rewound rolls R, on the frame structure IG may take any conventional form such as support brackets as at 12 and l4 formed with open ended slots l6 and I 8 to receive the mandrels or core shafts 20 and 22 provided for carrying the supply roll S and the rewound rolls R The frame structure IO is also arranged for Supporting an intermittently operating conforming unit as indicated generally at C, which in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of a die head 24 positioned by guide pins 26 and carrying a cutting die face 28 for operation against a platen 50 in the usual manner. The die head 24 is intermittently operated through connecting rods 32 which run from eccentric straps 34 fitted over eccentrics 36 carried on a driven shaft 38 that is powered at a driving wheel I40 by a belt drive 42 running from an electric motor or the like as at 44.

The previously mentioned pairs of web material feeding rolls are disposed on the frame structure IO in relation to the conforming unit C, the first pair of rolls being arranged in advance of the conforming unit C as at F, and the second pair of rolls beyond this' unit as at F'. Both rolls of each of these pairs of rolls F and F' are preferably rubber covered, and each pair of rolls is disposed on the frame structure Ill in lever arms as vat 46 and 48, the top rolls 56 and '52 of each pair being mounted for rotation in the lever arms 46 and 46 on journal portions as at 54 and 56, and the bottom rolls 58 and 60 of each pair having journal portions 62 and 64 which extend through the lever arms 46 and 48 and are mounted for rotation in bearing units 66 and 68 carried on the frame structure l0, so that the lever arms 46 and |48 are fulcrumed on the frame structure Il) for rocking motion about axes, respectively, of the bottom rolls 58 and 6%).

The lever arms 46 and 46 are fitted at their lower ends with crossbars 10 and 12 which in turn are joined by yqke lnmbfir .7.4'. SP .that We aosaeia 3 lever ar'ms 48 and 48 are connected for movement together whenever they are rocked about their fulcrum points. Booking motion is imparted to the lever arms 46 and 48 by means of a connecting rod 16 which as shown in the drawings, runs from an extended portion of the crossbar 12 to a crank plate 18 that is carried on the previously mentioned driven shaft 3' 8. This crank plate 18 is formed with a diametric T- slot 80, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, and a T-headed bolt fitted with a bushing 84 and a washer 86 is arranged for clamping the connecting rod 16 to the crank plate 18 at a properly adjusted position for obtsiningf the throw riequired to provide the desired seeking motion. for the lever arms 48 and 48.

The web material W is traned from the supply roll S through the machine so that it is led under the bottom roll 58 of the first rollpaiif then back through the nip of this roll pair F to extend over the top roll 50 to the toproll 52f of the-second rollpair F' and back through' th'e nip of this roll pair F', and. then under the bottom roll 60 of the. second: roll pair F' to be taken-up orr the rewound-rolls R.,.whch are suitably driven through a belt drive--80Irunning fromI thedriven sha-ft 38. It Willaccording-ly be seen that` the web material W extendsfthrough; the n'ip of each roll pair' F- and: F' in a manner such: that a web portion extends between: the roll pairsand F' over the-top rolls 50 and 52,-' of. each pair. The roll pairs F and F' arefarranged assubstantially Vertical standsso that the webflportion extending between them: in thismanner isdisposed over the: platen 30 of the con-.forming unit G (compare Fig; 6)

Thel rollV pairs Fand F* are driven for feeding the; web:l material W from thepreviously mentioned driven shaft 38 by means of a belt drive 88. running from. the shaft 38- tov a driving Wheel 90 carriedon the-shtrit 84% of. the bottom: roll 60 for roll pair F'..The rolhpairs-:F andiv F' areconinectedto` bedriven-z togetherby asprocket chain driver 92,. and, as: seeninz Fig; 2,. thev rolls'o'f each pair are geared forv rotation together` in. opposite directions each*` roll pair driven so that the rollsrotate at'th'e nip thereof in. a` direction op'- posite' toithe' direction. of: web travelthrough the conforming'unit (compareFig: 6);

In' order to` acdjust:the*l pitoh or phase off the web. material W'foif propen" registration in relation to the intermittent OperationA df the conforming unit 0,. the. driving wheel 90 carrled on' the bottom roll; shaft 64: is formed With a mounti'ng hub` 94. containing: a slip-clutch unit asl shown in. Fig; 3; This slip-clutch unitconsists of a spider memberflliwhich is disposedfinside theA mountingi' hub H. and. lixed` on-` the bottom roll sha'ft'. 64; and which is formed with spaced perip'herail` re'cesses as at 981 in which balls orl rollers Hlilare p'ositionedby springe., l'0-2 to grip the hub N- aiid therebyprovideznormah ly for' rotation of: tlrei shaft M from thedriving Wheel 90;

The opposite end of' the' bottomroll. shaft 84, howey'er; is fitted. With; at. han'dwhee'l Wkwhioh may' be employe'd to. restrain; rotation: of the shaft 642 Whenever` desire'd, in whichzevent-itwill beseenthat` the-balle or rollers mu'- would be forces to aretractedl position the recesses ao of the Spider' member 98- an'df'- thereby free the hub' portion 94 on the shaft M to* allow for pitch or phase ad'justmentof the roll pairs-Fand-F' to obtain proper'- registration of the web mater-12.21 W with thel conrormn-g unit, of; slip-clutch: ar-

rangements of this sort are conventional and well known, and it will be recognized that other devices commonly employed for the same purpose might be used instead, such as a worm adjusted differential (not shown) interposed between the driving wheel 90 and the shaft 64.

A fragmentary illustration of a portion of web material W su'ch as might be pro'cessed on the web handling' machine illustrated in the drawings, is shown in Fig. 7. The circle marks indicated by the reference numeral I06 on the web W represent registration indicia, such as might be included in a printed design on the Web material, of' might be added specially for the sole purpose of' maintaining registration. The notches indioated by the reference numeral 108 are shownto represent a type of recurring pattern such as might be cut in the web material W to form one or more strips of roll labels or the like as at HU. The waste produced by this cutt-ing operationwill in many cases fall clear of the stripe Ho as they are rewound toform the rolls Ri. anarrangement of stripper bars (not shown) may be used to direct the waste away from the stripe iHlv if desired.

I claimzl'. A- machine of the character described comprising means for disposing a Web for continuous feeding through said machine, a'n interm'ittently operating c'onforming unit,` and. means for strippingA travel of said web intermittently at said: conformin'g unit while still allowirg continuousfe'eding of said web, said` last mentioned means compriising. a first pair of: web feeding rolls disposed ahead of said conforming unit, a second; pair' of web feeding rolls disp'osedf beyond said conformn'g unit, both of said pairs' of feeding rolls being driven continuously withthe` rolls of' each pair: rotating at the nip' thereof iii a direction opposite to'- the direction of webl travel through said conforming unit whereb-y said' web may betrained through the nip of each roll pair with' a Web portion extending between the roll pansover one roll? of eachi pair, and. means' for oscillatingf said pairs of' feeding rolls about the axis ofl the'- other-` roll` of each' pair whereby the 'portiorifl of said web extended between said pairs of fedirig rolls? is displaoe'di intel'mttentl-y -h a direction opposite td the direction of travel of saidf Web andl at a'` speed eou'al to the feeding speed: of said web.

2. I'n aweb* handling machine, means' for iht'ermitt'ently stopping' travel of succee'di'ng' por'- tions oil-'said web without interruptng continuous feedingof said web through said machine, said' means comprisinfg a.- firstpair ofweb feeding' rol1`s,a second pair of web fe'eding! folflls spaced there'from; both of said pai-rs ofV web feedin'g rolls being dsposedasa sbstantially vertical stand; and means for oscillatifng'- eachof'sa-id pairs of web feedingrolls respectiv'ely` about the axisj'or the bottom rollof'each pair whereby when said web is trainee`V through the iii'p' of each or said. pairs of rolls andover the top'- rollof each pair; the 'portion of said web* extending between said pairs of rolls maybe displfaced internfitteritly iii a; direction opposite to` the direction ortravel of? said web and at a speed equal to-tli'efe'edifig speed' of' saidv web.

3. In a web handling machine, means for' interrn-ittentlfy s'topping travel of succeeding' portions of said web without`` interrupting contimrous feediingof.l saidweb.. through said machine,

- said'imeans compri'singi firstand. second pair-'s of web feeding rolls disposed in spacedrelation, both assaam of said pairs of feeding rolls being driven continuously with the rolls of each pair rotating at the nip thereof in a direction opposite to the direction of Web travel between said roll pairs, whereby said web may be trained through the nip of each of said pairs of rolls with a Web portion extending between said pairs of rolls over one roll of each pair, and means for intermittently displacing at least said one roll of each of said pairs in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said web between said roll pairs at a speed equal to the feeding speed of said web.

4. A machine for cutting a recurring pattern in web material while feeding said web material continuously comprising means for disposing siad web material for continuous feeding through said machine, first and second pairs of feeding rolls disposed in spaced relation, means for continuously driving both of said pairs of feeding rolls with the rolls of each pair rotating at the nip thereof in a direction opposite to the direction of web travel between said roll pairs, whereby said web material may be trained through the nip of each of said pairs of rolls with a Web portion extending between said pairs of rolls over one roll of each pair, an intermittently operating pattern cutting unit disposed between said pairs of rolls in relation to the web portion extending between them, and means for intermittently displacing at least said one roll of each of said pairs of rolls in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said web portion between said roll pairs and at a speed equal to the feeding speed of said web material, whereby travel of succeeding portions of said web material between said pairs of rolls is intermittently stopped at said pattern cutting unit but without interrupting continuous feeding of said Web material.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that said means for intermittently displacing at least one roll of each of said pairs of rolls comprises a crank mechanism synchronized with said intermittently operating pattern cutting unit.

6. A web handling machine comprising a frame structure, means carried by said frame structure for disposing a web for continuous feeding through said machine, an intermittently operating conforming unit mounted on said frame structure, a first pair of web feeding rolls disposed on said frame structure in advance of said conforming unit, a second pair of web feeding rolls disposed on said frame structure beyond said conforming unit, means for continuously driving both of said pairs of feeding rolls with the rolls of each pair rotating at the nip thereof in a direction opposite to the direction of web travel between said roll pairs whereby said web may be trained through the nip of each roll pair with a Web portion extending between the roll pairs over one roll of each pair, and a crank mechanism carried by said frame structure for intermittently displacing at least said one roll of each of said pairs of rolls in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said web between said roll pairs and at a speed equal to the feeding speed of said web, whereby travel of succeeding portions of said web between said pairs of rolls may be intermittently stopped at said conforming unit but without interrupting continuous feeding of said web.

'7. A web handling machine comprising a frame structure, means carried by said frame structure for disposing a web for continuous feeding through said machine, first and second pairs of web feeding rolls disposed in spaced relation on said frame structure, said roll pairs being arranged as substantially Vertical stands for allowing said web to be trained through the nip of each roll pair with a web portion extending between the roll pairs over the top roll of each pair, and said roll pairs each being disposed on said frame structure in lever arms, the top rolls of each pair being mounted for rotation in the lever arms and the bottom rolls of each pair being assembled for rotation in the lever arms but being mounted for rotation on the frame structure and thereby arranging the lever arms for rocking motion about their axes as a fulcrum, an intermittently operating conforming unit disposed on said frame structure between said roll pairs in relation to the web portions extending between said roll pairs, and a crank mechanism arranged on said frame structure for rocking said lever arms and thereby intermittently displacing the top rolls of each of said roll pairs in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said web between said roll pairs and at a speed equal to the feeding speed of said web.

RALPH T. STEWART.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 552,947 Williams Jan. 14, 1896 2,170,289 Klingler Aug. 22, 1939 2268242 Candee Dec. 30, 1941 2,275,064 Moore Mar. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,501 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1911 

